The Car Gifter

Say hello to Eliot Middleton a man on a mission. Since he was a child he loved working on cars with his dad. He comes from a small town in South Carolina called Andrews. When Eliot finished High School he became a mechanic just like his dad. In 2009 they opened their own auto repair shop. They quickly noticed that many of their clients were single moms on a budget. Paying a car repair bill for many of them would put them in financial hardship for months to come. What could the Middletons do to help them? PLENTY as it would turn out. 

After his father's health started to decline in 2014 they were forced to close the shop. Eliot's other passion was cooking more specifically BBQ cooking. After the passing of his father in 2020 Eliot would go on to open a restaurant. One thing he could never get out of his head however was the dream he had with his father. Their dream to start a car program to help people in his community with their transportation woes. In September of 2020 after struggling through Covid to take care of his own family the dream would be realized. 

In September of 2020 he had a car donated to him. This was all the motivation that Middleton needed. He would hit the ground running with the car program. The first car was a 1997 Navy Blue Toyota Camry. He quickly got to work fixing it up. The dream that he shared with his father was finally being realized. After the car was all fixed up and raring to go a mutual friend on Facebook found the person he would donate this first car to. An unemployed single mother with 2 kids one of which was disabled and required many trips to the doctor. It was decided that Middleton would surprise the woman with the car. 

In a Washington Post Interview, Middleton said "She was astonished about the car being hers and she was crying". 

After that experience, he was hooked. The car program has absolutely taken off since then. It has taken off so much that he can't keep up. At first he used his own money and time to repair and deliver these cars. He decided to start a non profit to help him take care of the costs. Between raising 2 daughters of his own, running a successful BBQ restaurant, and using all his free time working on cars how does he do it? Great question but he does and he has no regrets. 

He even donated a car to one of his volunteer mechanics. Middleton helped him financially and gifted him a car when his wife was laid up with Covid. The 31-year-old Jennings also has a 4-year-old daughter to take care of. 

Jennings would say "I help him work on the cars I never thought I would get one too".

Middleton would win a Jefferson Award, a national honor that recognizes Americans who exhibit exceptional public service. 

"People think Eliot is an angel, and I do too,” said Frank McClary, the mayor of Andrews South Carolina.

Middleton keeps all the cars at his house until they get around to repairing them. At one time he had 57 cars in front of his house. Keep up the good work Eliot you are truly an American hero.

This lone story that you can find here at the Washington Post: GO HERE > Inspired the idea for this podcast. 

Mental health starts with having the right frame of mind. Seeing what others can accomplish can raise your spirits so you too can excel in life.